Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-07-14
THE PRESIDENTS LETTERS
Formally Declining the Invitations to Visit
st Louis During the National Encamp-
ment of the Grand Army of the Republic
and Presenting His Reasons for So Doing.

L.
presidential visit during the Grand Army
Encampment next fall has been definitely
settled The President will not be here.
This morning Mayor Francis, as chair
man of the special committee appoin ted
by the general executive committee of the
Grand Army Encampment received a let
ter from the Executive Mansion signed by
President Cleveland, declining the invi-
tation sent to him in February last by
that special committee At the same time
the mayor, as chairman of the citizens
committee, which organized the popular
movement, and of the delegation which
bore the popular invitation to Wash
ington, received letter from the Presi-
dent Withdrawing his acceptance of the
invitation, and stating at greater length
the reasons why he will not be here
during the encampment These letters
were mailed at IL p. m, the night of July
4, and were delivered at the mayors Of
fee this morning The first is as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION
WASHINGTON. July 4, 1887.
To U0Uid r. Francis, Mayor Of the City of st.
Louis: Frank G1iennie, President Of the Mer-
chants Exchange, and John ". Noble. Com
nsander Frank P Blair Post No. I, G.. A. R.,
Committee.
formal response to your invitation given in
February last to myself and Mrs Cleveland to
attend the National Encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic. to be held in ST. Louis
from the 27th to the 30th of September next,
have verbally indicated my purpose to accept
it If I should find it possible then to be absent
from Washington.
The statement contained in your letter that
the organization was never in so f1ourshing q
condition as now. nor its membership so large :;
that no effort had been spared by the citizens of
ST. Louis to insure welcome of unusual
warmth at this, the first encampment of that
body ever held in a Southern State, and your
suggestion that no compliment more fitting
could be bestowed upon the valiant defenders of
a common country by the Chief Executive of a
restored Union and none would be more highly
appreciated than that conferred by his presence
at such time and place. enlisted my feeling
and interest.
More recently indications have been disclosed
that, however correctly you expressed the pre-
vailing sentiment in the Grand Army, there are
members and some posts of that body enter
tanning different feelings in respect to my ac-
ceptance and that my acceptance of your invi-
tation would lead to discord in the organization,
as well as an interruption of cordially at the
coming encampment.
Without entering into a discussion of these
opinions and unnfoved by any feeling, although
deeply regret the condition, 1 can but regard
it my duty to refrain from contributing by my
action to so undesirable result.
Nothing can be of greater Importance in con-
unrestrained manifestation by its participants
of that patriotic fraternity of feeling suggested
by the selection of the place of holding it and
which is at once the proof of the complete sue
cess of their arms and the highest glory of our
veteran soldiers.
I am constrained therefore to withhold my
purposed acceptance of your invitation. In
doing so I assure you of my unfeigned hope and
sincere wish that IN the agreeable entertain
ment prepared for them by the hospitable peo-
may enjoy the most pleasant, profitable and
useful reunion in their history.
Very truly yours,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
THE SECOND LETTER,
in which the President withdraws his ac-
ceptance of the popular invitation, is as
follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, I
WASHINGTON, July, q. 1887.
Hon. DGri6 r. Francis, -UGy0r and Chairman:
MY DEAR SIR-When I received the ex-
tremey cordial and gratifying invitation from
the citizens of St. Louis, rendered by a num-
Der of her representative men. to visit that
city during the National Encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic, had been con-
templating for some time the acceptance of an
invitation from that organization to the
effect and had considered the pleasure which it
would afford me, if it should be possible, to
meet not only members of the Grand Army,
the West, which the occasion would give me
opportunity to visit. The eXactions of my
public duties felt to be so uncertain, how
ever, that, when first confronted by the dele
cation of which you were the head, lex
pected to do no more at that time than
to promise the consideration of the
double invitation rendered me, and
express the pleasure it would give me to
accept the thereafter, if possible. But
the cordially and sincerity of your presenta-
who surrounded you. so impressed me that I
could not resist the feeling which prompted
me to assure you on the spot that I would be
with you and the Grand Army of the Republic
at the time designated, if nothing happened in
the meantime to absolutely prevent my leav-
ing Washington
Immediately upon the public announcement
of this conclusion, expressions emanating
from certain important members of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and increasing in
volume and Virulence constrained me to re-
view my acceptance of these invitations. The
expressions referred to go to the extent of de-
claring that I would be an unwelcome guest at
the time and place of the National Encamp-
ment. This statement is based, well as I
can judge, upon certain official acts of mine
involving important public interests.
done under the restraints and
obligations of my oath of office, which
do not appear to accord with the wishes
of some members of the Grand Army of the
Republic. refuse to believe that this organ
ization, founded upon patriotic ideas, COM
posed very largely of men entitled to lasting
honor and consideration. and whose GROWING
glory it should be that they are American
citizens well veteran soldiers deems
it a part of it's mission to compass any
object or purpose by attempting to intim-
date the Executive or coerce those charged
with making and executing the laws And yet
the expressions to which have referred ind-
cate such prevalence of unfriendly feeling
and such menace to an occasion which should
be harmonious, peaceful and cordial, that they
can not be ignored. I beg you to understand
that I am not conscious Of any act of
to meet the Grand Army OF
the Republic, or any other assemblage of my
fellow citizens. The account of my official
stewardship is always ready for presentation
to my countrymen. 1 should not be frank if
failed to confess, while disclaiming all resent
ment. that I have been hurt by the I'M
worthy and wanton attack upon me,
growing out of this matter, and the reckless
manner in which my actions and motives have
been misrepresented both publicly and pr-
vately, for which, however, the Grand Army of
the Republic, as body, is by no means re-
sponsible.
The threats of personal violence and harm in
case l undertake the trip in question, which
scores of misguided, unbalanced men under
the stimulation of excited feeling have made,
are not even considered. Rather than aban-
don my visit to the West, and disappoint your
citizens might. if I alone were concerned,
submit to the insult to which it is quite openly
asserted I would be helplessly subjected if
present at the encampment; but l should
bear with me there the peoples highest
office, the dignity of which 1 must protect;
and I believe that neither the Grand Army
of the Republic organization, nor any
thing like a majority of its members, would
ever encourage any scandalous attack upon
it. If, however. among the membership